News Article

Nintendo Download: 13th March (Europe)

The Nintendo Download information is a day later than normal for the second consecutive week, yet the details are finally here. They bring two Virtual Console releases and a discount for Wii U, some more Luigi-themed discounts, and in addition the 3DS has a variety of new offerings — download-only and retail — arriving alongside a number of discounts. Let's get on with it.

Wii U Virtual Console

Double Dragon (Arc System Works, €4.99 / £3.49) — A fondly regarded 8-bit beat-em-up, this is likely to get quite a few purchases based on memories alone. It's now on Wii U in Europe, and you can check out our Double Dragon review for more details. This is the US version of the game.

Super Dodge Ball (Arc System Works, €4.99 / £3.49) — The NES wasn't short of sports games, so naturally there's one for Dodge Ball. This does have a twist, however, as it features the characters and style from River City Ransom, which means some humour and crazy gameplay. We'll take this on again, but in the meantime you can read our original Wii Virtual Console Super Dodge Ball review. This is the US version of the game.

3DS eShop

Pokémon Link: Battle! (Nintendo, €7.99 / £7.19) — Known as Pokémon Battle Trozei in North America, this incorporates match-3 puzzling with battles and the age-old activity of collecting pocket monsters. With four player co-op and all of the Pokémon included, including those from X & Y, this could be a hybrid experience perfectly suited to 3DS-owning 'mon fans. We'll collect 'em all and let you know what we think.

Cubit the Hardcore Platformer Robot (CoderChild, €2.99 / £2.69) — As the name makes very clear, this is a hardcore platformer that aims to challenge those with quick thumbs and instincts. The safety of 3DS systems will be endangered, undoubtedly, and though short this game may tempt a number of gamers into score chasing; you can see our recommendation in our Cubit the Hardcore Platforming Robot review.

Cube Tactics (Teyon, €4.99 / £4.49) — This is a tactical war game, with the twist that the battlefield appears to be constructed of destructible cubes that you can place yourself. It includes over 25 single player missions and online play, in which you can take on up to three others. We'll strategise our way to victory and bring you a review soon.

3DS Retail Download

Yoshi's New Island (Nintendo, €39.99 / £34.99) — Available from 14th March. Over 18 years after Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, a direct sequel arrives for the iconic Super NES title — though other releases have perhaps qualified as sequels too. Yoshi has come a long way since those days, and makes his début on Nintendo's latest handheld with various abilities and transformations to aid you in your quest to rescue Baby Luigi. Our review will be with you prior to release, and in the meantime you can check out our interview with producer Takashi Tezuka.

World Conqueror 3D (3DS eShop temporary discount)

Nothing for me this week

Welsh ex-pat Tom is responsible for the day-to-day running of the site. He's the guy to thank for the generally brilliant nature of the content which massages your eyeballs on a daily basis. Also has an unhealthy obsession with all things Bowser.

I want Yoshi to be good but when even Official Nintendo Magazine aren't impressed in their preview, it's not a good sign. Why do they keep giving him to Artoon? Why not give us a Yoshi game from one of the main studios?

Not a bad week actually. Will be downloading Yoshi's New Island, and those discounts on Bit Trip and Dr Luigi are just what I've been waiting for to take the plunge! And they even managed to release 2 Wii U VC games, despite me not caring about them, which is something I guess. Was wishing a Nintendo Direct would reveal N64 games.

I keep looking in hope. My interest is rapidly diminishing.
I have even dug out my old GBA SP for another go at FF Tactics Advance.
I can't think why Nintendo are putting us through this week after week.
They must be trying to see how long they can taunt us all before giving us something a little bit decent!

I loved Super Dodgeball on the NES but I'm not sure the nostalgia is strong enough to get my money. The River City Ransom link got me excited for a moment until I realized it was just an example and not being added to VC this week.

The "Nothing for me this week" bar is always higher than any of the other choices. One week it was 100 percent of the votes. There is a games drought again. The next wii u game I am going to buy is Child of Light...at the of April! Come on Nintendo don't do this to us.

Yet again nothing . Although I'm buying the retail version of Yoshi for "the other half." Like someone said above: "I keep coming back and looking in hope..." I've started playing Mario 3D world again and I'm also still playing DKC:TF. Oh well, maybe one week... As the saying goes "... Please Understand..."

I WAS gonna get double Dragon but just read the review......I want co op and thought this had it. Guess I played no 2 when I was a kid and not The first one. =( I've got streets of rage 2 and golden axe 2 on Wii, I want to collect the best side scrolling beat em ups eventually......

If Luigi's Mansion was ~ £25 then I probably would have taken the bait but that price isn't quite exciting me enough to pick up a year old game.
Nintendo Direct must be a decent chance this week right? If not I hope we will be getting some tasty information from GDC!

Good to see the full retail game download versions getting discounts, but they'd still have to be cheaper than physical for me to buy them. How come Super Mario Bros. 2 is cheaper on Wii U VC than 3DS (pre-discount)?

@Jazzer94 It was obviously early in the development when first shown and they said that they considered to show the game on E3 2013 but didn't do it. Also the game has shown up on release scheldules several times. I very much doubt it's cancelled, there is really no reason to.

Yoshi feels like a supermarket own brand version of the game. It is clear what is trying to be but it is leaving an off taste at the moment. Maybe the game kicks into gear in the later worlds or something.

While I'm interested in Pokemon Link I've got too much on my plate for now.

@ledreppe Long story short. Wii shop price was £7 (or €10) for 1000 points as that was the currency conversion they used at the time. These days Nintendo use £9=€10. The most dedicated of people could buy the Wii VC version and upgrade to save money if the price was £4.50 (well break even on NES except being able to play in both crappy 50Hz and 60Hz, save something like 10p on SNES)

That's the fourth week in a row without a proper WiiU indie release - that's rather sad. I wonder what has happened to all the games scheduled to be released Q1 (1.001 Spikes, Citizen of Earth, Pier Solar HD etc) now that the quarter is nearly gone. Anyway, gonna get Dr. Luigi, more for the discount than for actual interest in the game.

@Starwolf_UK Most games on the 3DS are like that. (Look like the exact same thing on the Wii other than really jerky). A Link Between World they did a better job on but they spoilt it by only having one puzzle in each dungeon. (Not played the master quest - they should have either allowed starting on it or just made the main quest twice the length).

I need to secure a Pokemon Bank annual ticket before I lose my and my sisters' poke collection. I'll cry if I lose my thoroughly trained 'mon and shinies. And my sis will b****slap me till I faint if I ever forget it.

Well, that seems to be a good chance to get SMB 2 and play it for the first time in my life (even though I don't really have time for it now). It always looked interesting to me.

And now that I know that Super Dodge Ball is a kind-of successor to the great River City Ransom, I may get this one is well. I think it's worth mentioning that it wasn't released on the Wii VC in Europe before.

I just want to know why it's always just 2 games that are released on the Wii U eshop per week....I'm starting to think Nintendo is intentionally drip-feeding us eshop releases to prevent "droughts" but are denying indie releases in favor for their old pre-mario and Zelda snoozefest NES titles...

Was just talking about Siesta Fiesta's still vague Q1 release date on another article. I understand delays quite easily happen but some honest updates would be nice, especially now since Ninty is upping their game on giving spotlight to indies. I'm not sure Shovel Knight will make it's 30th release date but hopefully it does since so far it looks like the only highly anticipated title we'll get this month.

@unrandomsamWell, it's your lucky day then, because in Pokémon Link you connect FOUR Pokémon of the same type. In all seriousness: It's a puzzler, but it's not a Bejeweled clone if that's what you're thinking. It plays vastly different and I see nothing wrong with puzzle games being released, as long as it's not just yet another Bejeweled clone.